Urinal for boys

ABSTRACT

A portable urinal device for potty training young boys made of lightweight and durable thermoplastic material that can easily be attached to a wall or some other stationary object using hook and loop fasteners. The device is proportionately sized for young boys of potty training age and introduces the concept of what a urinal is and how it is used. A second embodiment utilizes a removable bowl that can be conveniently used to empty accumulated urine from the device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/171,507, filed Dec. 22, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a portable urinal. Morespecifically, the present invention is a portable urinal device fortoilet training young boys.

[0004] 2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0005] Toilet training is always a difficult time for both parents andyoung children. Children are typically tentative when starting theirtoilet training and gradually ease into using a smaller version of acommode as opposed to using an adult sized commode. As if it weren'tdifficult enough, boys have to learn how to use two types of bathroomfacilities, a commode and a urinal, as opposed to girls who simply haveto learn how to use a commode.

[0006] The related art addresses a number of devices that assist parentsin toilet training young children. Two portable toilet training devicesare outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 2,592,040 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,305,both issued to LaHue. The training device outlined in U.S. Pat. No.2,592,040 is used in combination with a portable toilet pot and has abackshield to allow a child to urinate against the backshield into thetoilet pot. U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,305 outlines a portable commode with aremovable pan for easy disposal.

[0007] The related art also addresses a number of devices that are usedin combination with a standard adult commode toilet. U.S. Pat. No.3,071,778 issued to Renshaw, U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,840 issued to Masterset al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,553 issued to Jermann, U.S. Pat. No.5,465,431 issued to Wertz and U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,851 issued to Perrydescribe a number of splash shields, attachments and channelingapparatuses that are used in combination with a standard adult commodetoilet.

[0008] Unfortunately, these devices are cumbersome and can even beconfusing to a young child. They are also not directed towards toilettraining young males, which is specifically addressed in U.S. Pat. No.5,044,020 issued to Lewandowski et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,431issued to Wertz. The patent issued to Wertz, however, cannot be used toclarify to a young toilet training boy what a urinal is and how it isused. The patent issued to Lewandowski et al. clarifies to a young boywhat a urinal is and what it looks like, but it is situated too high fora young boy to use.

[0009] What is needed is a urinal device (as opposed to a commode-typedevice) that is portable, recognizable and that can physically be usedby a young toilet training boy. Such a device can be used to eliminatethe current confusion that toilet training boys encounter when using aurinal.

[0010] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly orin combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The invention is a portable urinal device for potty trainingyoung boys. The invention is made of lightweight and durablethermoplastic material that can easily be attached to a wall or someother stationary object using hook and loop fasteners. The device isproportionately sized for young boys of potty training age andintroduces the concept of what a urinal is and how it is used. A secondembodiment utilizes a removable bowl that is used in conjunction withthe device that can be conveniently used to empty accumulated urine fromthe device.

[0012] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention tointroduce the concept of what a urinal is and how it is used to youngboys during toilet training.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to eliminate confusion thatyoung boys of toilet training age can experience when utilizing aurinal.

[0014] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

[0015] These and other objects of the present invention will becomereadily apparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a portable urinalfor young boys according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of a portable urinal for youngboys according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of a portable urinal for youngboys according to the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 4A is a perspective exploded view of the second embodiment ofa portable urinal for young boys with a removable bowl.

[0020]FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a portable urinal for young boysused in combination with a portable commode potty chair.

[0021] Similar reference characters denote corresponding featuresconsistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The present invention is a portable urinal device 10 for pottytraining young boys, as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0023] The preferred embodiment of the device 10 comprises a verticalbackwall 20 integral with a base 30 extending from the backwall 20 andhaving a pair of opposing arcuate sidewalls 40 curving downward from thetop of the backwall 20 to the base 30, as shown in FIG. 2. The base 30has a cavity 50 defined therein and against the backside 20. Most of thefront side of the backwall 60 is also hollowed out, from approximately1″ from the top of the backwall 20 down to the cavity 50.

[0024] Although the device 10 is self-supporting, a securing means forsecuring the device 10 to a vertical support, such as a wall 80 or astationary object, like a portable commode potty 90, is provided, asshown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. The securing means is a pluralityof strips of hook and loop fastening material 70 fixedly attached to thebackwall 20 of the device 10, the plurality of strips 70 being adaptedfor releasable attachment to mating strips of hook and loop material 70attached to the wall 80.

[0025] The strips of hook and loop material 70 are attached to the wall80 and the backwall 20 of the device 10 using common adhesives that areapplied to the backing of the strips of hook and loop material 70. Boththe common adhesives and the use of hook and loop fasteners arewell-known to those skilled in the related art and are not points ofnovelty of this invention.

[0026] The device 10 is made of thermoplastic material and is hollowthroughout, to keep the device 10 at a more manageable weight for easytransport. The device 10 is also water resistant and durable, and is noteasily punctured. The thermoplastic material is also well-known to thoseskilled in the related art.

[0027] A second embodiment of the device 10 is illustrated in FIG. 4B.The second embodiment utilizes a bowl 100, removably housed in thecavity 50 defined in the base 30. The bowl 100 is easily removed fromthe cavity 50 to dispose of accumulated urine. The bowl 100 is thenemptied and returned to the cavity 50 in the base 30. This is animprovement over the first embodiment, which must be clumsily tiltedupside down to dispose of any accumulated urine. There are no otherdifferences between the first embodiment and the second embodiment ofthe device 10.

[0028] The device 10 is 2.5′ high and 12″ across the width of the device10. The cavity 50 is 8″ high from the bottom of the base 30 and is 4″deep. The base 30 is 12″ deep from the front of the base 30 to the back.The removable bowl 100 is 10″×4″ and is 4″ deep and the width of thesidewalls 40 are 1″ each.

[0029] The operation of the device 10 is straightforward. A child oftoilet training age (2-4 years old) simply approaches and urinates intothe device 10. An adult then simply disposes of the urine eitherutilizing the first or second embodiment of the device and simplyreturns the device 10 back to a reusable position for the children.

[0030] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and allembodiments within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A portable urinal device for potty training young boys,comprising: a vertical backwall integral with a base extending from thebackwall and having a pair of opposing arcuate sidewalls curvingdownward from the top of the backwall to the base; said base having acavity defined therein against the backwall; and a securing means forsecuring the urinal device to a vertical support.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said securing means is a plurality ofstrips of hook and loop fastening material fixedly attached to saidvertical backwall, said plurality of strips being adapted for releasableattachment to mating strips of hook and loop material attached to avertical support.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein saiddevice is made of thermoplastic material.
 4. The device according toclaim 1, wherein said vertical support is an outside wall.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said vertical support is an adjacentportable toilet.
 6. A portable urinal device for potty training youngboys, comprising: a vertical backwall integral with a base extendingfrom the backwall and having a pair of opposing arcuate sidewallscurving downward from the top of the backwall to the base; said basehaving a cavity defined therein against the backwall; and a securingmeans for securing the urinal device to a vertical support.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 6, wherein said securing means is a pluralityof strips of hook and loop fastening material fixedly attached to saidvertical backwall, said plurality of strips being adapted for releasableattachment to mating strips of hook and loop material attached to avertical support.
 8. The device according to claim 6, wherein saiddevice is made of thermoplastic material.
 9. The device according toclaim 6, wherein said vertical support is an outside wall.
 10. Thedevice according to claim 6, wherein said vertical support is anadjacent portable toilet.
 11. The device according to claim 6, whereinsaid device further comprising a bowl removably housed in the cavitydefined in said base.